The complete guide for wedding photography time management
This guide is to help plan your wedding day timeline with your photography in mind.
Knowing that a wedding day is lots to cover I like to plan things accordingly to capture every single detail.
Detail shots:
Ideal Time Allotment – 30 minutes
Ideal Time of the Day – Morning
Ideal Location – Hotel Suite or outside
Advice – Having at least 30 minutes for details ensures that we have plenty of time to get that perfect photo of the dress, rings, shoes, bouquets, and the other details of the day.
There are times when a hotel room is too crowded or simply unappealing; we have to take the dress all the way down to the lobby or even outside. This can take some time, but as you can see from the results, it’s well worth the additional work.
Preparation photos:
Ideal Time Allotment – 60 minutes
Ideal Time of the Day – Morning or Early Afternoon
Ideal Location – Bridal Suite or Hotel Suite
Advice – Having an hour of preparation is ideal. During this time, I am getting close ups of the makeup and hair being applied as well as the candid moments and the bridesmaids and groomsmen get ready for the day. Keep in mind that these are some of the most emotional and fun times of the day, so you don’t want to cut it short.
If my second shooter is hired. The lead shooter will be with the bride while the second shooter will be with the groom. While it doesn’t take guys an hour to get dressed, there are still tons of great moments during this time between the groom and his family and friends.
Individual formal portraits:
Ideal Time Allotment – 20 to 30 minutes per person
Ideal Time of the Day – Morning or Early Afternoon
Ideal Location – Bridal Suite, Hotel Suite, Venue Lobby, or outside
Advice – Right after prep is the best time for individual portraits of the bride and groom (separately). Besides makeup and hair being completely fresh, the day hasn’t gotten hectic yet so we can take our time and get those perfect portraits.
Also, keep in mind that the window lighting in most hotel rooms creates a unique look that can’t be duplicated in any environment throughout the rest of the day.
First Look:
Ideal Time Allotment – 45-60 minutes
Ideal Time of the Day – Afternoon
Ideal Location – Venue Garden, Empty Venue Hallway (shaded areas with natural light)
Advice – The first look should be around 45-60 minutes. During this time, the bride and groom enjoy seeing each other for the first time on the wedding day. While the actual first look might only be 5-10 minutes, the rest of the time is spent on a few basic portraits of the bride and groom.
Ideally we are saving the bulk of the couples session for later (see the “couples session” section below). However, if there is no other time in the day, it is best to allocate another 45 minutes to an hour here so that we make sure we have enough photos of just you two.
Wedding party photos:
Ideal Time Allotment – 45 minutes
Ideal Time of the Day – Anytime thats easiest
Ideal Location -Venue Lobby, Venue outside, Beach, Park, Off-site Location
Advice – Wedding Party Photos should be around 45 minutes. During this time, we get a variety of shots in a variety of poses. We start off with the basic, classic photos focused on great expressions and lighting.
Then we move into a set of fun and creative shots.
family portraits:
Ideal Time Allotment – 45 minutes depending on how many family photos
Ideal Location -Venue Lobby, Venue Garden, Beach, Park, Off-site Location
Advice – Immediate Family Photos should take around 45 minutes. It’s important to have additional images with your parents, grandparents, and siblings beyond the basic formal (mentioned in the section below).
Plan on 3 minutes per group on average. For example, if you have 10 groups, schedule in a 30 minute time slot.
We all know how much weddings mean to the immediate family, and we want to make sure we’re capturing enough pictures with them.
family formals:
Ideal Time Allotment – 45 minutes
Ideal Time of the Day – post ceremony
Ideal Location – Ceremony Site
Advice – Formals should take around 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on the size of your family and the number of guests.
Plan on 3 minutes per group on average. For example, if you have 10 groups, schedule in a 30 minute time slot.
Some couples have decided that they want a picture with all guests while others have decided that they only want pictures with select VIPs to save time. We recommend something in between.
**We also recommend being very organized, with a list of groups and helpers from each side of the family to help round people up.
Couples session:
Ideal Time Allotment – 1 hour
Ideal Time of the Day – Late Afternoon (Sunset)
Ideal Location – Venue Garden, Beach, Hotel Lobby, Park
Advice – Couple session should be around 1 hour and should take place ideally 30 to 45 minutes before sunset. The is the best time in terms of lighting.
It also allows us to capture the awesome scenic shots with colorful skies. If your wedding is in downtown or in an area with tall buildings, it’s not as important for us to have this specific time frame (although it still helps).
However, if you booked your venue because of the spectacular view of the ocean or the gorgeous vines in the winery, it’s essential to follow this advice in your timeline.
Reception sneak out:
Ideal Time Allotment – 20-30 minutes
Ideal Time of the Day – evening ,sunset or Night Time
Ideal Location – Areas with interesting lights, fountains, city or landscapes.
Advice – During the reception, please plan on sneaking out for a couple of night shots. We only need 20-30 minutes, as we understand the importance of being a good host. However, this time is important if you appreciate the night photography that we deliver. The ideal time for this is right after you grab a bite to eat or during the open floor dancing after you’ve danced a few songs and would like a break.